The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-09
THE SOUTHERN NEGROES.
Sketch of Their Condition by One of Their
Own Race.

Own Race.
Detroit tMich.) Special.
d. Augustus Straker. ex-professor Of laws in
the University at Columbia, S. c.. and OF
Carolina, has arrived here with the intention of
engaging in the practice of law, and perma
nently settling in this city. He brings with
him the highest recommendations from Senator
Wade Hampton, the Supreme Court judges,
Governor Richardson, and other leading citi
zens. as gentleman of high stand
ing for ability and character. This fact
gives his statements as to tho status OF the col
ored people in South Carolina interest and
value. Dir. Straker las been practicing law in
that State for twelve years. giving as much Of
his time he could to the interests Of the colored
people of the South, urging upon them the vital
importance of education and industry. He has
been unsparing in his efforts for the general
welfare of his race His services, although gen.
erousy and freely bestowed, have not brought
him the remuneration they deserved, owing to
the general poverty of the people, and. being
in middle life, he finds it necessary to direct
his efforts into field which will promise him
more satisfactory remuneration.
In thus giving his chief reason for removal to
the North he added this other: "a singular and
unfortunate trait in tho colored people is that
they do not and will not trust each other. They
will not employ colored lawyers, physicians. or
by their own race. They will hire a white man
in preference every time. paying little or no at
tention to competency. This think. is a relic
of slavery which it will require some genera
toned to look up to the white man as lord and
master that they still stand in awe of him. and
have 20 faith in their people"
In response to further inquiries Professor
Straker continued: 1.-THE condition of the negro
population in the South at present is hopeful.
They woefully Ignorant of course. on the
whole but they are more keenlv alive to the ad-
vantages of education and industry for their
present and future we'll being than they ever have
been Where the State does not afford sufficient
educational facilities they are making efforts in
hair n
courage any assistance The colored people
all Republicans at heart, and in over
whelming majority IN South Carolina. The
whites, on the othsr hand. nearly all Demo
Gratis. and the entire State is in the hands of
that party. The reason is that nine-tenths of the
votes of the colored people are worthless under
the eight box system in use there. There
eight boxes provided at the polls one for each of
the chief State officials. The proper ballots
must be deposited in the proper boxes by the
voters themselves, and any error or confusion
makes tho votes worthless. The colored voters
are unable to read their ballots and the labels
the boxes, hence they deposit the wrong vote in
the wrong box. and SO throw it away. In that
way the minority keeps the reins of power. An
other fruitful source of poverty. discomfort, and
emigration is what is known as the lien law
The colored farmers are too poor to provide
themselves with the proper apparatus for har-
vestine their crops. and so they
sell them in the field to the white
they must submit let the crops rot This
keeps them constantly in debt, and is most dis
couraging Constitutionally the whites and
blacks are all equal, but practically they all
unequal There you find coored mans car,
waiting room, gallery in the theatre, and so on.
A colored official. clergyman, bishop. or legisla-
tor cannot enter the white peoples car although
he has to pay as much fare as they do. l was
put out of the car reserved for white people at
Birmingham, Ala, some years ago. while on
my way to deliver the Grafton at the opening
of the colored peoples department in the worlds
fair, New Orleans. There in
testing the matter unless could afford to take
the case to the United States Supreme Court, be-
cause the State Supreme Courts have held the
race difference valid, the State constitutional
amendment to the contrary Notwithstanding.
Colored people have to endure many such indig
mites in the South. You may be surprised to
learn that South Carolina is the only Southern
State which has law on the statute books de-
claring distinction illegal, and providing
specially for such discrimination"